What to Wear Instead of Sweats

Comfortable Chic

When I was on a TV show recently and asked to name the one thing most women over 40 do wrong when it comes to fashion, I said underdressing — going for comfort at the expense of style. Funny, but when I’d been asked that same question in a pre-interview days earlier, my answer had been just the opposite: overdressing. Midlife women tend to get too glitzy and end up overdoing it, blinging out on all burners. Why, then, my about-face?

On a flight from New York to Chicago, I’d just encountered "airport dressing." At the terminals in New York and Chicago, I’d been surrounded by sloppy sweats in all shapes and sizes, hoodies, fleece pants with stripes down the sides, athletic sneakers that had never set foot in a gym — all accessorized with a big fanny pack. By contrast, the women in jeans and nice sweaters, or in pants and leather jackets with boots or flats, looked so powerful, so first-class to me.

Don’t get me wrong. Body-hugging velours are adorable — on tweens, or even on us when we’re home alone watching a DVD. And a supercool tracksuit like the one Madonna designed for H&M in 2004 works if you’re actually running to or from your trainer. But wearing oversized, shapeless sweatshirts is the same as not bothering to get dressed at all. If you look good, you’ll feel good. The desire for comfort is one we all share, but fulfilling it stylishly requires thought and strategy.

Department and specialty stores are packed with soft and slouchy feel-good clothing in a carnival of colors and weightless, wrinkle-free techno fabrics. Newer names in contemporary casual clothing are getting major shelf space. You’ve probably noticed Vince, Splendid, DKNY Pure, Velvet, Iisli, Michael Stars, Three Dots — and if you haven’t, get to know them. Personally, I’m not sold on the jumpsuit (too much work involved in every visit to the ladies’ room!), but here are some appropriate pieces to consider.

Sweatshirt alternatives:

Easy-fitting cotton knit sweaters

Soft denim blazers

Smock tees

Knit cotton dresses in T-shirt fabric

Layering tanks

Sweatpants alternatives:

Drawstring or yoga-inspired pants

Cropped pants

Casual cotton pencil skirts

Sneakers alternatives:

Rubber-soled driving shoes

Ballet flats

Espadrille wedges

Flat strappy sandals

Flat boots

Look 1: What to Wear…

...for lunch with friends, mall crawls, or dinner and a movie

Layered knits are cozy but never sloppy — perfect for bridging the gap between relaxed and dressed-up. Layer Splendid’s cotton jersey dress ($133) over Tommy Bahama’s cotton tank ($38) for climate and decolletage control, then throw on a long cardigan by Gerard Darel ($218). Nine West wedges with patent-and-linen strap ($79). Ruehl Sophie hobo bag in oyster leather ($198).